The first song in the list to be related to Christmas, Boney M brought their interpretation of Harry Belafonte’s 1956 hit to the masses with an upbeat pop track that was recorded just a month before it hit the number 1 spot!

3. Wings – Mull of KintyreSales: 2.05 MillionDate: 1977

The first single to be classified “Rhodium” (after “Platinum”), Paul McCartney’s tribute to the place in Scotland that he lived and recorded was the biggest selling single of all time.

2. Queen – Bohemian RhapsodySales: 2.1 MillionDate: 1975/1991

Freddy Mercury wrote Queen’s Magnum Opus as something a bit different, with an unusual “mock opera” format that didn’t have any specific chorus. The public loved it, however, and it shot straight to number one in 1975 and again after Mercury’s Death in 1991.

The biggest selling Christmas number 1 ever, Bob Geldof’s brainchild to raise money for famine in Ethiopia brought together some of the biggest selling British and Irish musicians of the time. From George Michael to Bono, Sting, Kool and the Gang, Status Quo and Boy George among others, the single outsold every other song in the chart put together. Quite an accolade!

Special Mention: In 2009, Rage against the Machine was the first artist to get in the christmas number one spot through downloads alone with the backing of a facebook group who decided they’d had enough of the X-factor contestants taking the chart year after year.

The “Killing in the Name” campaign was supported by celebrities such as Dave Grohl, Sir Paul McCartney (who actually appeared on the X Factor as well) and the band Muse, as well as comedians Stephen Fry and Bill Bailey.